Living with Autism

Boo at the Glenview Leisure Club Pool So, what am I up to with the new "behaviour" curve we took before Christmas? After consulting with my big sister, a mother of a teenage boy; I realised the need for a lot more exercise for my growing boy. Der! you say. Apparently it is well documented that adolescent boys need regular exercise or they start to exhibit aggression. And in the dark afternoons of December we lost the habit. When I was 11 I lived in the country so for exercise I would: Ride my horse, ride my bike, play complicated chasing games involving boys taking my hat and putting it up a tree, (what was that about?) climbing trees to get my hat back (I'm an excellent climber) forming gangs and making huts, raiding and eventually knocking down other gang's huts while simultaneously trying to defend ours; and, since it was 1980; disco dancing. Seriously - imagine a darkened century old school hall with colored cellophane over a few lights and a p.a system playing &quo…

So, yeah, the whole going back to work thing has been pretty funny and I am learning some things about myself that I didn't fully understand last time.

I don't know if you understand Aspergers Syndrome - a form of autism; but one of the aspects of it is the tendency to take things literally and therefore not understand turns of phrase.

There is a joke that explains this tendency

Q: How do you diagnose Aspergers in a typical classroom setting?
A: Go into the classroom and give the kids a stern lecture finishing with
"and you will all have to pull your socks up"
-then count the number of kids with their heads under the desk adjusting their socks -you have your Aspies.

(told that at a Psychology Conference once- how they roared!)

Since having my kids and doing a lot of reading about autism I have recognised my own aspie tendencies (and hyperactivity/obsessiveness) but it is only since I have gone back to work that it has really given me cause to think. Because I genuinely canno…

We parents of special needs kids are used to this feeling - fear. Fear about the future, what our kids will turn out like, where and what they will be when we pass from this mortal plane. Ireland is in crisis and we don't know how deep, but we do know that services for folks like us are in the firing line; it's all about the fear.

A Very Happy Year of The Ox to you all. Chinese New Year is about Family and mine are all on the other side of the world (well the ones that aren't supposed to be upstairs falling asleep) This is my Grandma and Grandpa who live in Melbourne. We were all looking out for the Paparazzi when they snapped us outside their condo by the bay.
Where my sister and her family are probably spending Australia Day a - "Bank Holiday Monday". Probably listening to Triple Js Hottest 100 This little piece of Heaven is where my sister served the Imeldas tea and a good fruitcake, with a jug of cold water flavoured with freshly picked mint on the side. It is literally just at her backdoor. AustralianaThis is my laundry door where I look to escape the sideways rain, snow and sleet outside my back door.Postcards and Koala compliments of Skye who sent me a care parcel last year.I will also accept donations of Tom Yum packet soups, Chicken Twisties and Cherry Ripes. Email me for delivery address.Have…